After the St. Patrick’s Day weekend lead to an unusually high number of drunk driving arrests in Sandusky County an Ohio Highway Patrol official remarked that there has been an “alarming” increase in impaired driving. The official stated that the statewide enforcement for operating a vehicle while under the influence (OVI) has increased in Ohio, and the statistics for 2016 so far illustrate a substantial jump that gives officials a good reason to be alarmed. As of April 18, 2016 the Ohio State Highway Patrol has made 1,197 more stops for OVI enforcement in 2016 than they did for the same period in 2015, which is more than a 17 percent increase.
As the number of drunk drivers on the road has increased, so have OVI enforcement efforts. Enforcement efforts were at a peak throughout Ohio on St. Patrick’s Day weekend as the Ohio State Highway Patrol used federal funds to help pay overtime in order to keep increased patrols on the roads throughout the weekend. But the increased enforcement efforts have not come on just holiday weekends. A weekend in February had the Ohio Highway Patrol participating in an initiative where they cooperated with agencies in five other states to increase patrols along I-75 to look for speed and OVI violations. Hamilton County has its own OVI Task Force with the goal to conduct around 18 OVI checkpoints each year and to operate saturation patrols throughout the year.
The increased in impaired drivers and corresponding increase in enforcement is especially significant considering the 4th of July is coming up soon. The holiday weekend has traditionally been one of the most dangerous for drunk driving. So if you are planning to be on the road for the 4th of July, be on the lookout for drunk drivers and a significantly increased police presence.
How a Cincinnati Criminal Defense Lawyer Can Help
If you find yourself among one of the increased numbers of Ohioans facing OVI charges you want an attorney with experience handling drunk driving cases who understands the charges you are facing and the best defenses against them.
Attorney Brad Groene with the firm Luftman, Heck & Associates is a Cincinnati criminal defense lawyer who has represented hundreds of OVI clients over the years and has worked hard to achieve the best possible outcome in each case. Contact Luftman, Heck & Associates to get the help that you need. Call (513) 338-1890 to set up a free and confidential consultation.
